NEW DELHI, March 5 -- With gold prices surging and purchases forming a major component of household savings, the government has expanded mandatory hallmarking to 380 districts, aiming to safeguard consumers and strengthen quality oversight in India's gold jewellery market, according to a government order3 March, which was reviewed by Mint.

The move comes through the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026, which replaces the district schedule under the 2020 order. Mandatory hallmarking was first introduced in phases in 2021, initially covering 256 districts, largely major trade centres. The expansion reflects a push to bring smaller, regional markets under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certificatio...